Newsflash: Verizon wireless does not like Texas. During the 4 hour drive  today, I was unable to abide by my usual schedule of gazing out the window, picking music to play, and browsing various social media when the  cornfields became gratuitous. This is because I couldn’t get on the Internet, text anyone, or even get on Instagram for at least three hours of this drive. It was eye-opening in some ways, mostly because this made me unable to take a nap (This was a play on words – it’s been a long day). However, there were ample views of cattle, trailer parks, eccentric street signs, and extremely aggressive drivers when the occasional car (usually a Ford, circa the Paleolithic age) passed by. Today’s highlight, by far, was the realization that on the side of the road were cacti. This means we’re almost near the desert, which in turn means that we are closer to the lapse in light pollution that comes with near-vacant, arid deserts. I have an app on my phone that shows where the constellations are based upon where you point your phone, and I’m excited to see the constellations in real life, instead of just on a screen. This could certainly serve as a metaphor for the advent of technology in the digital age and how this affects the manner in which people perceive the natural environment. Simply put, I really like stars, and I’m really excited […]

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Yesterday we stopped for lunch at a town that looked as if it had remained stagnant since the 1960s. The shop windows were dusty and framed by peeling paint awnings, and a sign outside one door read that they were selling TV antennas, which are obsolete last I checked. You could even see grain silos in the distance, and the few cars that did pass by looked like they had come along only shortly after horse and buggy. It was eerie and reminded me of Western films, of which I’m already not very fond. We ventured to this off-road hamlet to get lunch and were pleasantly surprised by the quaint café waiting behind the peeled paint and antiquated signage. We split a super yummy sandwich and looked around to see what resembled a tea shop, save the decorations on the left wall. There, hanging near doilies and cutesy signs for overzealous moms and grandmas, were a series of rifles hanging on the wall. Just to reaffirm –  this was a tea shop. As this is a 21st-century odyssey, we felt the need to take a selfie in front of said guns.   The presence of firearms so near our delectable, charming southern lunch was somewhat offputting. However, things got weirder. While mom went down to get the car after lunch, I stood on the sidewalk, and it took me a minute to realize how terribly out of place I seemed. […]

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As an avid fan of music and all things pop culture, the notion of Graceland was pretty darn magical. The king of Rock and Roll’s epic home seemed like something that was worth the hype, but it sadly was not so. Plastic covers and velvet ropes barred any real entry, no mention was made of his later years, and the house itself was unremarkable. It was beautiful, but just not quite beautiful enough, considering the amount of time and money invested by all the investors and tourists visiting. Nonetheless, I was provided with an in depth education on Elvis’ filmography, awards, and outfits, which I absolutely adored. Additionally, I liked hearing more of his music, as I hadn’t heard much before. The advent of the notion of superstardom marked a turning point in how fame is acquired and perceived by both those who possess it and those who witness it. As a monumental fan of Lady Gaga, I find all this very intriguing, for the notion of celebrity is forever evolving, and fame can bring on a meteoric rise or a plummeting downfall, often both.        Another instance of a disconnect between that which is expected and that which occurs was dinner the other night, which was highly rated online and then resembled leftovers from a 1980’s meal in real life. Alas, these things happen. Similarly, lunch today was met with eagerness and left with stomach growls and mild dejected […]

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Visiting Georgia Aquarium is an assault on the senses. Sound waves wash over the casual observer as they walk the cement pathway to the grandiose entrance. A voiceover by an enthusiastic fish sets the scene, and the oppressive heat beating down through the glass windows walking in provides a lovely reminder of Hotlanta. Past ticket booths and bag inspections lies an atrium. Various exhibits and highlights are clearly pointed out by well-designed signage, and crowds can be seen splitting up and following the path to separate exhibitions. Ocean Voyager, the first exhibit we viewed, had a gigantic tank containing many tons of water. In order to sufficiently view the vast expanse of water to the left, right, and above, there was a conveyor belt of sorts that traveled down the main hallway of the display. Beyond that was a huge, several feet thick window into the gargantuan tank, which offered many opportunities for panoramas gone wrong (I’m totally not posting those – they’re actually terrible). Further, we visited two other exhibits, providing an opportunity to see cute penguins, moody Beluga whales, and even a totally rad dolphin show, among other things. I had never been to an aquarium before, (at least that I can remember) so this visit was especially eye opening and unique.      Today, from Huntsville Alabama, we visited and toured the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and Martial Space Flight Center. There were many large rockets and robots. […]

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Yesterday, we had the privilege of visiting Biltmore, America’s largest house and privately owned estate. Asheville, the city in which it’s located, is a hip, pretty rad town. The Vanderbilt mega-mansion-European-castle-esque property stands in stark juxtaposition to the modernity of Asheville and the estate’s inherent context. As part of the immersive experience of viewing and touring Biltmore, we went on a Segway tour through the grounds. Segwaying requires a finite amount of finesse, and our guide and instructor, Sara, provided ample instruction and training, as well as tangential information on the background of Biltmore’s landscape architecture. Biltmore is beautiful, and being able to see this feat of architecture and American innovation was awe-inspiring. Sadly, no photos were permitted inside, but I rebelled and took an artsy shot of the medieval style chandelier that hangs down through the grand stairwell. Thus is the nature of tourists.             Hope you enjoy our road trippin’ updates.  

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The most striking thing about North Carolina is probably just the vibe. Forget hostility-there’s only charm and politeness to the people here, whether a passerby or a waitress or a tour guide. The word hostility has instead been replaced with the phrase ‘ya’ll’, and the word rude has been swapped out for an aura of openness and welcome. Moving on from the personality, the Southern aesthetic is beyond the breadth of my prior comprehension. Sunsets over cornfields certainly broaden one’s horizons (this was a play on words – look out for those). There are stunning mountains that loom nearby the speedy highways that traverse vast expanses of the country and even venture through the heart of such mountains in (hopefully structurally sound) tunnels. Notably, the speed limit is higher than in Cape Cod, so all of the gorgeous scenery tends to pass by rather quickly. Adding to the delightfulness of our Southern venture was a visit from Maddy, with whom we shared an excellent meal and from whom we gleaned a great deal of fun knowledge about the South and the area in which we’re staying.   Among the nearby sites is Biltmore, America’s largest privately owned estate, which I can’t wait to see tomorrow. Prior to a fantastic dinner, we also enjoyed the cultural opportunities in Charlotte, which we left this afternoon. As I mentioned earlier, the south does have a distinct personality and flavor to it. Cars are […]

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This morning we had an incredibly informative, thorough, eye opening tour of Antietam. From the ‘Bloody Cornfield’ to Burnsides Bridge, there was ample opportunity to delve into the rich history of the turmoil of The American Civil War.   Tactics, troop movements, and the imperative positioning of an army’s flank were all elucidated and elaborated upon. We’ve been traversing Virginia’s verdant countryside and tumbling hillsides. Later today, we’re going to Monticello, which is very exciting because I was assigned to do a project on Thomas Jefferson in 4th grade, thus resulting in a since untapped compendium of eclectic trivia. All of these immersive historic experiences allow us to delve into the unfathomable. Did you catch that play on words? (It’s like delving as in diving into, such as diving into a pool, and then unfathomable has the word fathom, which is a measurement of distance in terms of depth of a body of water). I have a lot of time on my hands; my mom’s driving and my responsibilities consist of DJing and backseat driving, including learning how on earth a GPS works, (another play on words) as opposed to how a GPS works on Jupiter.  Enjoy our sporadic roadtrip updates. 

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Gypsy – Lady Gaga So I just packed my baggage and said goodbye to family and friends, and took the road to nowhere on my own. Like Dorothy on a yellow brick, hope my ruby shoes get us there quick

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Surprise, the rental place didn’t have a Toyota RAV4, but we got a Jeep, so life is good. Also, this car is a Patriot, which definitely serves as a testament to our great American journey.          

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Walcott – Vampire Weekend Walcott, don’t you know that it’s insane? Don’t you wanna get out of Cape Cod, out of Cape Cod tonight

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